Means for supporting the inner conductor of a coaxial microwave frequency device



Oct. 5, 1965 R. E. DOERFLER 3,210,698

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A GOAXIAL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE F'lled May 14, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l RODGER E. DOERFLER ATTORNE Y Oct. 5, 1965 R. E. DOERFLER 3,210,598

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A COAXIL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE Oct. 5, 1965 R. E. DOERFLER 3,210,698

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A COAXIAL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 14, 1963 INVENTOR. RODGER E.DOERFLER ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 R. E. DOERFLER 3,210,698

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A COAXIAL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE Filed May 14, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J INVENTOR y M9 l Q Room-IRE, oERFLx-:R

ATTORNE Y Oct. 5, 1965 R` E. DOERFLER 3,210,698

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A COAXIAL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1965 INVENTOR Romer-:R E. DoERFLr-:R BY f /w ATTORNEY LER Oct. 5, 1965 R. E. DOERF PORTING THE IN 3,210,698 NEE CONDUCTOR OF A MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE MEANS FOR SUP COAXIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 14, 1963 United States Patent O 3,210,698 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUC- TOR F A COAXIAL MICROWAVE FREQUENCY DEVICE Roger E. Doerler, Washington, D.C., assignor to PRD Electronics, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 14, '1963, Ser. No. 280,409 6 Claims. (Cl. 333-97) This invention relates to coaxial electromagnetic wave energy means for supporting the propagation of microwave frequency energy and, in particular, the invention relates to structure for preventing damage to the inner conductor of such coaxial means or to its support means, wherein said inner conductor is characterized by fragile support means which cannot withstand the physical forces normally attending make and break connections.

The extremely wide frequency band coaxial line microwave frequency directional coupler illustrated herein has a frequency range of 3 to 10.5 kmc. One of the aspects of said coupler is the use of fragile rod-like thin dielectric pins for supporting the inner conductors of the coupler. Bead structures normally employed for supporting coaxial inner conductors would interfere with the operation of the coupler. The foregoing pins are capable of maintaining the geometric position of the inner conductor in proper coaxial relationship With respect to the conductive walls of its outer conductor when the directional coupler is in an active transmission line while energy is being propagated therethrough. On the other hand, such support structure is too fragile to withstand the physical forces normally imparted to the directional coupler when one is mechanically effecting a connection or disconnection with respect to the directional coupler.

The invention contemplated herein is designed to inject temporarily a rigid clamping support into the directional coupler for supporting its inner conductor during such make and break connections. -By design and structure, said rigid clamping support prevents physical damage or destruction to the fragile pin-like inner conductor supports. In addition, the invention herein is operatively coupled with a protective hood-like guard which prevents inadvertent make or break connection or otherwise the application of physical strain to the fragile inner conductor supports when the coaxial device is in operational status, that is to say, when it is connected in a transmission line for propagating energy. At the time of operational status of the coupler, the rigid clamping support is retracted from its inner conductor supporting position, whereby the inner conductor is supported primarily by the fragile rod-like pins.

It is thus the principal object of this invention to provide effective means for supporting an inner conductor of a microwave frequency coaxial device during make and break connections of same, wherein the inner conductor is normally supported by fragile means incapable of withstanding the physical forces of such connections, such that fragile inner conductor support means is positively secured against physical damage or destruction during make and brake connections.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a guard operatively related to said inner conductor rigid support means as contemplated herein, wherein said guard is operatively positioned with respect to the coaxial device during operational status of same so as to prevent inadvertent forces being applied to the fragile inner conductor support means during such time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an interlock assembly including a pulley system for effectively regulating the operation of said rigid support means and protective guard so that the former is positioned to clamp the inner conductor to support same while the protective guard is in a retracted inoperative status to permit make and break connections to the directional coupler and, conversely, to retract the rigid support means from its inner conductor clamping position and to insert the protective guard means in guarding position when the coaxial device is in operational status in a transmission line.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a slab coaxial line directional coupler incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top View of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section through line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG, 4 is an exploded view of the constituent parts of said slab line coupler and illustrates the assembly thereof at a plurality of stages; the bottom figure in FIG. 4 depicts one body part thereof in section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a slab line wall and its coupling apertures;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view elevation of a terminating dissipating load employed in the auxiliary slab' lines of said coupler;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlargement of the terminating end of said load;

FIG. 9 is a section through line 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG.10 is an enlargement of the portion of FIG. 9 illustrating the means of supporting the load by the slab line inner conductor; i

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the interlock assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention claimed herein;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of same illustrating the alternate position of the protective hood in relationship to the connecting end of the directional coupler;

FIG. 13 is a top view elevation of FIGS. 11 and 12, 1alsod shows the alternate positions of the protective FIG. 14 is an elevational view taken in the direction of line 14-14 of FIG. `11 to illustrate the toggle structure of the interlock assembly;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary and partly sectional view of the interlock assembly in perspective illustrating, in particular, the pulley system thereof for controlling the movement of the protective hood;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of the interlock assembly in perspective illustrating, in particular, the pulley system thereof for controlling the movement of the inner conductor rigid clamp pins;

FIG. 17 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective of the end of the pulley system showing its control knob for regulating the pulley system;

FIG. 18 is a section through the interlockassembly illustrating its operational relationship with respect to the coxial device shown clamped to the interlock assembly; an

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section illustrating a coaxial adaptor at the test end of the directional coupler of FIG. 1; FIG. 19 also illustrates the connecting end of a matching adaptor for connection to said first adaptor in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 depict a high directivity bi-directional slab line coupler 20 employed as a reilectometer, in particular, to measure the VSWR or reflection coefficient of a microwave frequency component 21. The device 21 under test is depicted by block diagram in FIG. 1 and may be a coaxial component or a wave guide component. A wave guide may be measured provided a suitable coaX-to-wave guide adaptor is available to connect the Wave guide component to directional coupler 20. Coupler is made up of three axially coextending slab lines, i.e., main line 22 and two auxiliary lines 23, 24. Electromagnetic wave energy is supplied by a suitable source, not shown, to an input end coaxial connector 29 of coupler 20. The incident energy travels down main line 22 and is fed to the unit under test 21 which is coupled to the other end of line 22. Auxiliary line 23 is designed to provide an output signal proportional to the incident power at its output end coaxial connector 25. Auxiliary line 24 is designed to provide an output signal proportional to the reflected power at its output end coaxial connector 26. The reected signal is the power reiiected back into main line 22 by device 21. Under normal conditions, the power fed into main line 22 is relatively small. Hence, the auxiliary lines 23, 24 are not too loosely coupled to main line 22.

Coupling from main line 22 to each auxiliary line is achieved by coupling means 30, incorporated in the individual conductive walls 27, 28 common to respective pairs of slab lines 22, 23 and 22, 24. In particular, each coupling means 30, 30 involves a Tchebychef array of twelve slots suitably dimensioned and displaced in the walls 27, 28. By the foregoing arrangement, each auxiliary line 23, 24 experiences a minimum directivity of db over the frequency range of 3 to 10.5 kmo. A pair of matched crystals or other detector means, not shown, are coupled to the auxiliary line outputs 25, 26 for detecting power from the individual auxiliary lines 23, 24.

In basic construction, coupler 20 is made up of a pair of outer lengthwise conductive bodies 31, 32 of generally similar construction. Each body 31, 32 has a U-shaped lengthwise recess 33 dened by interior conductive walls 34, 35, 36. The prime numbers, such as 33', 34', 35', 36', etc., refer to components of auxiliary line body 32 and correspond to the unprimed like-numbered parts of auxiliary line body 31. The parallel surfaces 34, 36 and 34', 36 form the narrow dimension walls of slab lines 23, 24, respectively. When wall 27 is mounted over body 31, recess 33 is enclosed on four sides to define the slab line cavity for auxiliary line 23. Similarly, when wall 28 is mounted over body 32, recess 33' is enclosed to define the slab line cavity for auxiliary line 24. The confronting parallel surfaces of walls 35, 27 and 35', 28 form the wide dimension walls of slab lines 23, 24, respectively. Main slab line 22 is formed by the parallel confronting wide dimension surfaces of walls 27, 28 and the parallel confronting narrow dimension wall surfaces 37, 38. The latter walls are part of lengthwise conductive bodies 39, 40. Bodies 39, 40 are supported in lateral spaced apart relationship between walls 27, 28.

Each slab line has an axial inner conductor 41, 42, 42', respectively. The inner conductors are held in fixed axially centralized position by a plurality of thin nylon rods 43. Two rods are shown supporting each of the auxiliary line inner conductors 42, 42'. A third rod near the test end of line 22 is added to increase the support of inner conductor 41. The axes of rods 43 are parallel to the wide dimension walls of the slab lines. The three inner conductors are provided with holes and rods 43 are inserted therethrough for supporting the inner conductors. The inner conductors are secured to the respective supporting rods 43 by dielectric cement. The ends of rods 43 are secured by dielectric cement or other means to the opposed recess walls 34, 36; 34', 36'; and Walls 37, 38. In addition, rods 43 do not extend across the coupling regions of the slab lines, but are located to the left and to the right of the coupling slots 30, 30'.

The three inner conductors are made of highly conductive light weight structure, such as seamless silver tubing to minimize the load weight on supporting rods 43 and to minimize line attenuation. For ease of fabrication, the three inner conductors are made in axial sections which are conductively secured end-to-end by conductive cement or other means. Slab line Walls, such as 34, 3S, 36, 37, 38, 34', 3S' and 36', are preferably polished silver surfaces to provide highly conductive slab line boundaries.

Each of the closed ends of the individual auxiliary lines includes a well-matched terminating load, such as the tapered loads 44, 44. Loads 44, 44' are of similar design and structure. Each load 44 is formed by a metalized lm, and in particular, consists of a Mylar substrate having an evaporated metalized film, such as Nichrome, on one side thereof. The forward section of load 44 has tapered outer edges 45 extending axially a sufficient length along the slab line to match for the lowest frequency of operation. The rear section of load 44 has straight longitudinal edges 46 forming a very small uniform separation or gap 47 with the adjacent narrow dimension walls of the slab line. Gaps 47 are in the order of .O05 to .0l inch. A conductive silver band 48 may be formed along the straight edges 46 of the load to increase the capacitance between the load and the ground walls in order to characterize the load less sensitive to frequency over the range of operation.

FIGS. 7 through l() illustrate the method of attaching and supporting the elements constituting loads 44, 44' by the respective inner conductors of the auxiliary slab lines. Each load is actually formed of two Mylar metalized leaves 49, 49 supported along their inner edges by a section of slab line inner conductor. The supporting portions of the inner conductors are sectioned in cross-section, wherein one section is grooved 50 and the other conductor section is tongued 51 to press-fit into the matching groove. The lengthwise inner side edges of leaves 49 are seated and conductively cemented between the adjacent walls of the conductor sections. The individual leaves 49 extend outwardly in a plane coinciding with the center line of the supporting inner conductor and parallel to the wide dimension of the slab line. The Mylar substrate is suticiently stiff to maintain the foregoing at and dimensional relationship.

An annular thin conductive disc 52 may be mounted on the slab line inner conductor to the rear of the load leaves 49 for improving the matching response of the load at the lower frequencies of operation. A cylindrical resistor 53 is butt-connected in series to the axial end of the slab line inner conductor. Resistor 53 serves to dissipate energy at the lower frequencies to D.C. In accordance with known practice, the slab line walls in the region of resistor 53 are tapered. The taper surfaces 54a are provided Iby =a shorting plug 54 conductively cemented to the end of resistor 53 and to the pair of opposed -adjacent slab line walls for the purpose of terminating the slab line.

The common coupling walls 27, 28 are preferably made of flat, rigid, extremely thin and highly conductive material. The cross-sectional thickness of walls 27, 28 depicted as 55 in FIG. 6, is made as thin as possible and yet characterized to retain perfect iiatness without buckling or rippling. In one preferred embodiment, walls 27, 23 are made of beryllium Icopper of 4 mils thickness. Beryllium copper is chosen as wall material because it holds its rigidity and iatness for thin dimensions in the order of 4 mils and, further, because it permits the fabrication of coupling slots 3th, 30' with high Vdimensional accuracies. The two beryllium copper walls are substantially identi- `cal except that the array of slots 30 are off-set to the right (FIG. 4) with respect to the location of the slot-s 30 in wall 27 to avoid having the loads 44, 44 extending into the area of the coupling slots 39, Sti'.

In assembly, the individual inner conductors 42, 42' are attached to respective bodies 31, 32. Walls 27, 28 are placed over the recesses 33, 33' of the respective bodies. Conductive bodies 39, 40 are mounted on one of the foregoing assembled structures, such as wall 27, and then the other assembled structure is mounted over bodies 39, 40 to complete the assembly. The foregoing components are provided with suitably located positioning and securing holes 56 for mounting and securing one structure component against the next for proper -assembly of coupler 20. In addition, bodies 31, 32, 39 and 40 are provided with undercuts and recesses 57 at the ends thereof to form mounting bores into which the coaxial connectors, such as 25, 26, 29 and 58, are seated and secured during the assembly of coupler 20. Reference member 58 depicts a coaxi-al adaptor secured to the test end of coupler 20 and is further described hereinafter.

`The outer shells of connectors 25, 26, 29 are conductively connected to the coupler ground walls and the inner conductors of connectors 25, 26, 29 are connected to the respective slab line inner conductors in accordance with customary practice to allow connection to external electrical circuits. The output ends of auxiliary lines 23, 24 are gradually bent on a radius to allow suiiicient structural room for attaching the output connectors 25, 26 at such ends.

A coaxial adaptor 58 is secured to the test end of coupler 20. Adaptor 58 includes an outer conductive shell 59s see FIGS. l and 19, conductively connected to the coupler ground walls. The outer end of shell 59 includes a xed bayonet pin 6) and also has a threaded coupling nut 61 mounted thereon. Main line inner conductor 41 extends into shell 59 to the outer end thereof to define a coaxial male -connection at such end for connection with a female adaptor 62, `shown in part in FIG. 19. The opposite end of female adaptor 62, not shown, is suitably designed to connect directly to the unit 21 under test, In other words, the unit under test 21, for example, a coaxial line connector, is attached to adaptor 62, and the female connecting end thereof is equipped to connect directly to adaptor 58. The `connection is secured by coupling nut 61. Female adaptor 62 will have a bayonet slot 60a engaged by bayonet pin 60. When adaptors 58, 62 are connected, `bayonet pin 60 engages slot 60a to lock adaptor 62 against turning about its longitudinal axis. By the foregoing arrangement in cooperation with an interlock structure to be described hereinafter, inner conductor 41 and its support rods 43 are prortected against deforming forces which might Iotherwise arise if a mechanical force, such as a turning force, is inadvertently applied to adaptor 62 when it is connected to adaptor 58. The total mechanical support for inner conductor 41 at the test end is provided by nylon rods 43, in particular, by rod 43a located at the coupler test end and also by the interconnected unit 21 under test and adaptor 58. In other words, the unit under test and the interconnected adaptor 58 contribute to the mechanical support .of slab line inner conductor 41 during the time the unit under test is coupled to coupler 2t). This arrangement provides suicient support to hold inner conductor 41 axially centralized during measurement of unit `21 under test. When measurement of unit under test is completed, it is disconnected and replaced by another i unit to be tested which is then connected to adaptor 58. During such disconnect and connect phase of operation,

the sole support for inner conductor 41 at the test end would be rod 43a. Rod 43a is not sufficiently strong to hold inner conductor 41 firmly in place; nor is rod 43a sufficiently strong to withstand the mechanical stresses and strains imposed thereon during such disconnect and connect phase of operation. Any appreciable stress or strain on inner conductor 41 during disconnect and connect will bend or deform rod 43a.

An arrangement is provided to prevent destruction of rods 43 and, in particular, rod 43a, by clamping inner conductor 41 with retaining pins 63, 63, during disconnect and connect operation; see FIGS. ll, 18 and 19. Pins 63, 63 are sufficiently strong to withstand mechanical strains and stresses imparted to the coupling structure at its test end during disconnect and connect operation to relieve nylon pins 43 of all mechanical loads during such time. The clamping actions of pins 63, 63' are correlated with the action of a hollow cylindrical protective hood 64; see FIGS. 12, 15 and 19. Protective vhood 64 is equipped to extend over adaptor 58 and, in particular, over the region of coupling nut 61 to prevent access thereto while unit 21 under test is being measured, whereby inadvertent disconnection of the unit under test and manipulation of adaptor 58 during such phase of operation is not possible. Correlated with this position of hood 64, pins 63, 63 are retracted from the interior of adaptor 58 to avoid interference of the transmission of wave energy between coupler 20 and the unit under test.

During the connect and disconnect phase of operation, hood 64 is retracted to expose coupling nut 61 to permit disconnect and connect of unit 21 under test with respect to adaptor 58. Correlated with this position of hood 64, retaining pins 63, 63 are injected into adaptor 58 to grip conductor 41 firmly so as to relieve nylon rods 43, in particular, nylon rod 43a, of all mechanical loads created by reason of disconnect and connect manipulations. The axes of retaining pins 63, 63 are perpendicular to the axes of rods 43. The correlated operation of retaining pins 63, 63 and hood 64 are brought about by an interlock `assembly made up of upper and lower frame members 65, 66 secure/d by bolt means 67 (FIG. 18) to define a clamp; see FIGS. 11 to 19. Upper frame member 65 has a curved surface 68 equipped to match fit against the O.D. of shell 59, see FIGS. 1 and 18, when frame members 65, 66 lare clamped tight by bolt means 67. Frame member 66 has clamp jaws 69 equipped for clamping against the lower portion of the shell surface when frame members 65, 66 are made tight by bolt means 67.

Interlock assembly includes :a pair of similar toggle arms 70, 70. Toggle arm 70 includes a. threaded rod 71. Rod 71 carries a pair of locking nuts 72, 73, a spring support 74, a tubular sleeve 75, a tubular bushing 76, a cylindrical spool 77 mounted on bushing 76, and a third locking nut 78, FIG. 18. The I.D. of sleeve 75 is larger than the O.D. of threaded rod '71; this is best seen in the sectioned assembly of toggle arm 70' and, in particular, note the corresponding and identical parts rod 71' and sleeve 75 in FIG. 18. Hence, sleeve 75 is free to be slidably positioned on rod 71. The inner end of the bore section of sleeve 75 is enlarged to receive one end of bushing 76 therein; ee the sectioned assembly for corresponding parts sleeve '75 and bushing 76', FIG. 18. There is no axial abutting contact between sleeve 75 and bushing 76; again, note corresponding parts 75 and 76' of toggle arm 70'. Bushing 76 extends through the spool bore. The bushing bore LD. at its outer end (the right end for bushing 76') is larger than the O.D. of the threaded rod 71 to slide therealong. However, the portion of the bushing bore I.D. at its other end (note the left end of bushing 76') is threaded to secure to the rod thread. The inner end of bushing 76 has an enlarged collar 79. Nut 78 is threadedly drawn against collar 79. The foregoing components are mounted on rod '71 so that collar 79 yand the inner end of sleeve 75 are drawn against respective diametrically opposite sides of spool 77. These components are suitably located along rod 71 and locked in position by locking nuts 72, 73 and 78 to provide the toggle action described hereinafter. The axial ends of spool 77 have axial projections 80' secured to respective link arms 81 of a link structure. Link arms 81 are pivotally mounted and journalled to turn about rod means 82 supported therebetween. Rod means 82 is supported in frame member 65. The upper ends of link arms 81 have open ended slots 83. The outer end of retainer pin 63 has a head 84 fixed thereto and provided with axial projections 85 captivated and keyed to travel in respective ones of vertical link slots 83.

The same arrangement exists for the other toggle arm 7t'. Accordingly, like parts for the latter toggle arm have primed reference numbers corresponding to the toggle components previously described. The inner ends of toggle arms 7i), '70' are threadedly secured and soldered to respective yoke members 86, 86'. The bifurcated arms of yoke members S6, 86' are pivotally secured and journalled to the opposite ends of pivot means 87 to form a knuckle joint. Knuckle joint pivot means 87 is captivated land guided along a vertical track formed by slot 88 in frame member 66. Slot 88 is closed at its lower end by a base plate 89 secured to frame member 66 by bolt means 90.

Pins 63, 63' are captivated for axial slide movement in respective bores in fraime member 65, whereby each pin 63, 63' is aligned to engage a diametrically opposite side of inner conductor 41. Inner conductor 41 has diametrically opposite holes 91, 91 each extending partway into conductor 41. Each pin 63, 63 has a round tip end 92, 92' for easily nding and entering a respective hole 91, 91. Pins 63, 63' have intermediate diameter sections 93, 93 provided with curved faces 94, 94' to match-lit against the diametrically opposite O.D. portions of inner conductor 41. Pin section 93' is longer than section 93, whereby pin shoulder 95' never abuts against the O D. of shell 59. However, the shoulder 95 of pin 63 will abut against the O.D. of shell 59. The latter shoulder 95 serves as an anvil when it abuts the shell O.D. Curved face 94 also acts as an anvil when it abuts against the inner conductor O.D. Furthermore, the axial distance between shoulder 95 and curved face 94 is selected to centralize inner conductor 41 within adaptor shell 59 when inner conductor 41 is being clamped by pin faces 94, 94 during connect-disconnect operation.

Prior to clamping of inner conductor 41, pins 63, 63' including the inner tips 92, 92 thereof are withdrawn from the wave energy coaxial cavity of adaptor 58. In this position, pins 63', 63' are located within the structure of adaptor shell 59 as depicted in dotted outline of FIG. 18, to avoid interference with the transmission of wave energy by coaxial adapter 58. When pins 63', 63' are at such retracted position, link structure 81 is at its maximum counterclockwise position about the axis of 82 and link structure S1 is at its maximum clockwise position about the axis of 82'. At this state of Operation, knuckle joint S7 is at its lowest position along its vertical track S8. A stud 96 is secured to and carried by knuckle joint 87. Stud 96 passes freely through a hole 97 in base plate 89. Stud 96 carries a nut 98 fixed thereon at its lower end. Nut 98 acts as a limit stop to dene the maximum upward travel of knuckle joint 87.

Retaining pins 63, 63' are inserted into inner conductor 41 to clamp same by applying a suitable force to toggle arms 7i), '70 to raise knuckle joint S7 to its upper limit of travel, slightly above the horizontal line, for example, about 3%;2 of an inch, as depicted in FG. 18. Further upward travel of knuckle joint 87 is prevented by stop nut 98 striking the bottom of base plate 89.

When pins 63, 63' are forced to clamp inner conductor 41, the action is as follows. Link structure 81 is caused to turn clockwise about axis 82 as link S1' is caused to turn counterclockwise about aXis 82'; this requires raising knuckle joint 87. The pin center tips 92, 92' readily nd and enter into respective locating holes 91, 91' as pins 63, 63 converge upon inner conductor 41. When pin tips 92, 92' enter the locating holes 91, 91', inner conductor 41 is initially and somewhat loosely gripped for nal clamping. Pin shoulder 95 anvils against the OD. of shell 59; About this time or soon thereafter, curved face 94 of pin 63 anvils against the inner conductor OD. Furthermore, about this time or ,soon thereafter, the curved face 94' of pin 63', which has been located by its tip 92' finding hole 91', matchfits against the inner conductor O.D. and pushes said inner conductor over until both curved faces 94, 94 now tightly clamp the O.D. of inner conductor 41. The axial lengths of pin -center tips 92, 92' are less than the axial depths of respective locating holes 91, 91' to permit the foregoing operation. The action of having one curved face 94 or 94' strike the inner conductor O.D. before the other and the sequence of the individual parts of the pins 63, 63' engaging the respective parts of adaptor 58 are controlled by the location of the toggle arm components on their respective toggle rods '71, 71. Upon completion of clamping, toggle knuckle joint 87 is now slightly above the horizontal center and is held there by a spring 99 under tension. rlhe ends of spring are tied to respective spring supports 74, 74'. Spring 99 also serves to hold toggle arms 70, '70' at its lower limit position as well. The force of spring 99 is suflicient to hold the knuckle joint 87 and thus toggle arms '70, 711' at its respective upper and lower limits as set manually until an overriding external force is applied to the toggle mechanism.

Simuitaneous with clamping of inner conductor 41, hood 64 is retracted to expose coupling nut 61. Hood 64 is supported by a small base 10). Base 111@ includes a horizontal pin 1111 equipped for slidable in and out motion with respect to a support bearing 102 in frame member 66. Base 111i) has a depending tail member 163 captivated for slidable movement in a longitudinal guide track 104 in base plate 89, see FIG. l5. When hood 64 is in its position close to frame (dashed outline in FlGS. 12, 13 and 15 and solid outline in FG. 19), coupling nut 61 is exposed. When hood 64 is in its forward position spaced relatively far from frame member 65, hood 64 is located over coupling nut 61 (nut is now threaded to adaptor 62, which in turn is connected to unit 21 und-er test) to prevent access to nut 61; this is depicted by the solid outlines in FIGS. 12, 13 and 15 and dashed outline in FIG. 19. For this position of hood 64, retaining pins 63, 63 are withdrawn into the body of shell 59.

The foregoing simultaneous action of hood 64 and toggle arms 70, 711' is brought about by a pulley system controlled by a knob 105 (FG. 17) carried by a turntable shaft 166. Shaft 106 carries dumbbell tie point 1617, 108. 1t will be understood that shaft 106 is suitably journalled in some available stationary structure adjacent to coupler Ztl, whereby knob 1115 is readily accessible to the person carrying out the test. The pulley system includes first and second pulleys 1119, 110 journalled by frame member 65 for turning about a horizontal axis. A third pulley 111 is journalled by base plate 69 for turning about a second horizontal axis. A pair of tie members or eye loops 112, 113 are carried by respective yoke members S6, 86'. A fourth pulley 114 is journalled by frame member 66 to turn about a vertical axis. A fth pulley 115 is, journalled by frame member 65 to turn about an axis raised from the horizontal. In addition, two more pulleys 116, 117 are supported by base plate 89. Pulley 116 is journalled to turn about a vertical axis and pulley 117 is journalled to turn about an axis raised from the horizontal. Another pair of tie members or eye loops 11S, 119 are carried by members 103 and 10i), respectively. From FiGS. 13 and l5, it is seen that pulley 117 is behind tie point 11S regardless of the position of hood 64. Pulley cords of fixed length are designated as A, B, C and D. Cords A and B are tied to dumbbell 167 by a washer 120 and bolt 121. Cords C and D are similarly tied to dumbbell 10S. Cord A extends down from dumbbell 107, around the front of pulley 109 and then underneath pulley 115, around the front of pulley 114 and then extends back and is tied to point 119. Cord B extends down from dumbbell 1417, around the front of pulley 109, and is tied to the point 112 on yoke 86. Cord C extends down from dumbbell 108, around the front of pulley 110, underneath pulley 111, around pulley 116, underneath pulley 117 and is tied to point 118. Cord D extends down from dumbbell 108, around the front of pulley 110, underneath pulley 111 and is tied to point 113 on yoke 86. Cords A, B, C and D are xed in length. Accordingly, when shaft 106 is rotated about its axis, one dumbbell rises as the other dumbbell drops. This provides slack to one pair of cords, for example, C-D, as tension or pull is imparted to the other pair of cords A-B. The example assumes clockwise turning about shaft 106 as viewed in FIG. 17. Opposite turning applies slack to cords A-B and tension to cords C-D. For example, if knob 105 is turned clockwise as viewed in FIG. 17, that is, looking into the back of knob 105, cords A-B are put up tension, whereas cords C-D are given slack. This means that with respect to hood 64, cord A is pulled up so as to pull hood 64 to its position spaced close to frame 65. This position exposes coupling nut 61. Since cord C is being relaxed for such turning, tie point 118, which is in front of pulley 117 as seen in FIG. 15, is being given cord slack to permit forward movement of hood 64. With respect to toggle arms 70, 70', when cord B is pulled up, knuckle joint 87 is pulled to travel vertically up. This requires a slack to cord D to allow yoke 86 to rise upwardly. It will be seen from an analysis of the pulley system, that converse turning of knob 105 moves hood 64 to its solid line position (FIGS. and 16) and causes toggle arms 70, 70 and thus knuckle joint 87 to drop to its lower limit point. Manual force on handle 105 is suilicient to override the spring tension (spring 99) holding the pulley system in set position at its upper and lower limits. When toggle arms 70, 70 are at low limit position they do not abut against base plate 89, see FIG. 11; this may be regulated by the iixed length of cords B, D.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for rigidly supporting the inner conductor of a coaxial electromagnetic wave energy device having an outer conductive body and an inner conductor wherein said inner conductor is characterized by fragile support means in the interior of said coaxial device comprising, first and second interlock structure members in clamped relationship with respect to said outer conductor body, said outer conductor body having opposed passages, lirst and second clamping pins movably mounted by said interlock structure for entry through respective ones of said passages in said outer conductive body and into the coaxial wave energy propagating region of said coaxial device for clamping against diametrically opposite sides of said inner conductor, said pins having curved faces match-fitting with the outside diameter surface of said inner conductor to clamp irmly against same, and means for controlling movement of said pins from one to another of two positions, wherein said pins being in a rst position clamped against said inner conductor to hold same rigidly so as to relieve the fragile inner conductor support means of physical stress and strain while a coaxial line make and break connection is being made to said coaxial device, said pins being in a second position retracted `from said inner conductor and from the coaxial wave propagating interior region of said coaxial device for allowing wave energy propagation by said coaxial device without interfering with same.

2. Apparatus as dened in claim 1, said inner conductor having diametrically opposite locating indentations, said pins having locating tips for entry into respective ones of said indentations for properly aligning said inner conductor as said pins are entering into a clamping relationship with respect to said inner conductor,

one of said pins having a shoulder for abutting against said outer conductor body to serve as an anvil so as to centralize the clamped inner conductor in proper coaxial relationship for make and break connections.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said coaxial device having a coaxial adaptor for permitting a coaxial transmission line connection to said device, a protective hood movably mounted by said interlock structure for movement from one to another of two positions with respect to said adaptor, said hood being in one position over said adaptor to preclude access to said adaptor for preventing a coaxial line make and break connection with said adaptor when said clamping pins are in retracted relationship with respect to said inner conductor, said protective hood being in its second position with respect to said adaptor to render said adaptor accessible for a coaxial make and break connection therewith when said clamping pins are in clamped relationship with respect to said inner conductor, and means for controlling movement of said protective hood in synchronism with movement of said cla-mping pins.

4. Apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling movement of said pins comprising, rst and second rockable members carried by said interlock structure for moving respective ones of said clamping pins from one to another of their respective two positions, a pair of adjustable toggle arms carried by said interlock structure and equipped for motion from one limit stop position to another limit stop position, each arm being linked to a respective one of said rockable members for rocking same, each rockable member rocks in a first direction to move a respective clamping pin in positive clamping relationship with respect to said inner conductor upon actuation of said toggle arms to one limit stop position, said rocking members being rocked in a second direction for retracting said clamping pins with respect to said inner conductor when said toggle arms are actuated to the other limit stopt position, and means for actuating said toggle arms from one to the other of said limit stop positions.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said coaxial device having a coaxial adaptor for permitting a coaxial transmission line connection to said device, a protective hood movably mounted by said interlock structure for movement from one to another of two positions with respect to said adaptor, said hood being in one position over said adaptor to preclude access to said adaptor for preventing a coaxial line make and break connection with said adaptor when said clamping pins are in retracted relationship with respect to said inner conductor, said hood being in its second position with respect to said adaptor to render said adaptor accessible for a coaxial line make and break connection therewith when said clamping pins are in clamped relationship with respect to said inner conductor, and means operatively cooperating with said toggle arm actuating means for controlling movement of said protective hood in synchronism with movement of said clamping pins.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said lastmentioned means for controlling movement of said hood and said toggle arm actuating means comprising, lirst and second pulley systems supported by said interlock structure, each of said systems including fixed length pulley cords for controlling respective movement of said toggle arms and protective hood, means for operating said pulley systems wherein said protective hood and said toggle arms are actuated in unison to provide make and break connections for one phase of pulley operation and to prevent such connection during another phase of pulley-operation.

No references cited.

HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR RIGIDLY SUPPORTING THE INNER CONDUCTOR OF A COAXIAL ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE ENERGY DEVICE HAVING AN OUTER CONDUCTIVE BODY AND AN INNER CONDUCTOR WHEREIN SAID INNER CONDUCTOR IS CHARACTERIZED BY FRAGILE SUPPORT MEANS IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID COAXIAL DEVICE COMPRISING, FIRST AND SECOND INTERLOCK STRUCTURE MEMBERS IN CLAMPED RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID OUTER CONDUCTOR BODY, SAID OUTER CONDUCTOR BODY HAVING OPPOSED PASSAGES, FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPING PINS MOABLY MOUNTED BY SAID INTERLOCK STRUCTURE FOR ENTRY THROUGH RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PASSAGES IN SAID OUTER CONDUCTIVE BODY AND INTO THE COAXIAL WAVE ENERGY PROPAGATING REGION OF SAID COAXIAL DEVICE FOR CLAMPING AGAINST DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID INNER CONDUCTOR, SAID PINS HAVING CURVED FACES MATCH-FITTING WITH THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER SURFACE OF SAID INNER CONDUCTOR TO CLAMP FIRMLY AGAINST SAME, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID PINS FROM ONE TO ANOTHER OF TWO POSITIONS, WHEREIN SAID PINS BEING IN A FIRST POSITION CLAMPED AGAINST SAID INNER CONDUCTOR TO HOLD SAME RIGIDLY SO AS TO RELIEVE THE FRAGILE INNER CONDUCTOR SUPPORT MEANS OF PHYSICAL STRESS AND STRAIN WHILE A COAXIAL LINE MAKE AND BREAK CONNECTION IS BEING MADE TO SAID COAXIAL DEVICE, SAID PINS BEING IN A SECOND POSITION RETRACTED FROM SAID INNER CONDUCTOR AND FROM THE COAXIAL WAVE PROPAGATING INTERIOR REGION OF SAID COAXIAL DEVICE FOR ALLOWING WAVE ENERGY PROPAGATION BY SAID COAXIAL DEVICE WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH SAME. 